Looking for Python programmers--where to search?

[Paul Duffin]

dwassena at julian.uwo.ca wrote:
> 
> In article <39ABE7F7.BA78BD78 at hursley.ibm.com>,
>   pduffin at hursley.ibm.com wrote:
> > Alex Martelli wrote:
> > >
> > The algorithms and languages (not one but many) should be taught side
> by
> > side, learning how to write quick sort for example in a few different
> > languages gives you a better understanding of both the algorithm and
> the
> > language than just doing it in one language.
> >
> > The languages should cover most of the different flavours of
> languages.
> >       Functional.
> >       Procedural.
> >       Object oriented.
> >
> Question: know any courses/schools that teach that way?  I would hire
> from there plus I would like to return to a structured learning
> environment from time to time to sharpen skills.. (what skills???
> *grin*)
> 

I don't and it is probably not practical to actually do it simultaneously
but it can be done within a reasonable amount of time.

The first language I was taught at University was ML which is a VERY NICE
functional programming language which I didn't fully appreciate until
later. Programming in C wasn't covered until the second year.

By the end of the course I had *learnt* (or should have learnt) the 
following.
	ML
	C
	Modula 3
	Lisp
	Fortran
	Cobol
	Prolog
	Lambda calculus (evaluating by hand was a real PITA ;-)

As natural language linguists will tell once you have learnt a couple of
different languages it becomes easier and easier to learn new languages.

A lot of the course was spent on theory; data structures, algorithms,
performance analysis, compilers, networking, ...

I was also exposed to hardware design, chip design, differing computer 
architectures, natural language understanding, .... the list goes on
and on.

While I did not learn as much as I could have done it certainly gives
me a reasonably deep understanding in a very broad range of subjects.
While problem solving abilities are in the long run more important than
book knowledge a good grounding in the basics of the subject are
essential.

The point about education is not to teach you everything you need to
know but to structure your mind to be as flexible and adaptable as
possible while giving it enough information to choose what to do
next.